Portuguese Independent Heavy Artillery Corps

The Portuguese Independent Heavy Artillery Corps (Corpo de Artilharia Pesada Indepedente in Portuguese, Corps d'artillerie lourde portugais in French), or the CAPI, was a Portuguese railway heavy artillery unit that operated on the Western Front, during World War I.

Corpo de Artilharia Pesada Independente Corps d'artillerie lourde portugais Portuguese Independent Heavy Artillery Corps
Portuguese troops passing through the village of Twyford. Portuguese CAP (Corpo de Artilharia Pesada) at Hazeley Down Camp, near Winchester, taken in September, 1917.
Active	1917–1918
Country	Portugal
Allegiance	Portuguese Army
Branch	Heavy artillery
Type	Regiment
Size	1600
Training base	Bailleul-sur-Thérain, France
Equipment	320 mm, 240 mm and 190 mm railways guns
Engagements	World War I Western Front
Commanders
Commanding officer (May 17, 1917 to January 15, 1918)	Colonel João Clímaco Homem Teles
Commanding officer (January 15, 1918 to November 30, 1918)	Colonel Tristão da Câmara Pestana

The CAPI was created in response to a request from France for artillery support. It was independent from the much larger and better known Portuguese Expeditionary Corps, which also fought on the Western Front. The unit operated 320-millimetre (12.6 in), 240-mm and 190-mm railway guns, which were supplied by Britain, and operated under the control of the French Army.^[1] Most of the CAPI's personnel came from the Portuguese Army foot artillery branch, which in Portugal was responsible for manning the heavy guns of the coastal and garrison batteries. Other personnel came from the naval artillery.

Organization

The CAPI was made up of:

• Headquarters and staff;
• Three mixed groups (battalions);
• Depot battery.

Each group consisted of three batteries, one of 320-mm guns, while the other two were equipped with either 190-mm or 240-mm guns.^[1]

See also

• Portugal in World War I